DHS surveillance of protests in Asheville, NC; Tampa; Ft. Lauderdale; Jacksonville; Lansing, MI; Denver; Kansas City; Los Angeles; Boston; Dallas; Houston; Minneapolis; Miami; Jersey City; Phoenix; Lincoln, Nebraska; Chicago; Salt Lake City; Detroitdocuments obtained by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) through its FOIA records requests reveal that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an agency created after the September 11 attacks under the rubric of combating terrorism, conducts daily monitoring of peaceful, lawful protests as a matter of policy.Functioning as a secret political police force against people participating in lawful, peaceful free speech activity, the heavily redacted documents show that the DHS “Threat Management Division” directed Regional Intelligence Analysts to provide a “Daily Intelligence Briefing” that includes a category of reporting on “Peaceful Activist Demonstrations” along with “Domestic Terrorist Activity.” (p. 68)The PCJF has obtained thousands of pages of documents pursuant to its Freedom of Information Act demands and made them available for public viewing. The newly obtained documents show coordination and intelligence monitoring by the DHS, the FBI, the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies of “Occupy-type” protests.The documents show the routine use of Fusion Centers for intelligence gathering on peaceful demonstrations as well as the use of DHS’ “Mega Centers” for collection of surveillance information on demonstrations.

One document also shows the DHS engaging in what appears to be “off the books” intelligence gathering as one DHS agent writes in response to a request for information on the Occupy movement in New England, “This meeting should be finishing up soon and I'll have access to a non-DHS computer that will allow me to do more looking.” (p. 6)The first trove of FBI documents obtained by the PCJF in December 2012 exposed that the FBI treated the Occupy movement, even before the first tent went up in lower Manhattan, as a potential criminal and terrorist threat in spite of the fact that the FBI acknowledged that the OWS organizers explicitly called for peaceful protests.The release and PCJF analysis of the documents in December received significant media attention.The new documents reveal DHS surveillance of protests in Asheville, NC; Tampa; Ft. Lauderdale; Jacksonville; Lansing, MI; Denver; Kansas City; Los Angeles; Boston; Dallas; Houston; Minneapolis; Miami; Jersey City; Phoenix; Lincoln, Nebraska; Chicago; Salt Lake City; Detroit and others.In preparation for planned protests in New York City on October 15, 2011, the DHS documents show coordination between federal and local authorities to use New York City’s permitting scheme to frustrate, obstruct or stop free speech activities.In the case of the New York City protest, the documents reveal how even the most elementary exercise for conducting a lawful protest activity was the subject of information sharing and cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies. This was the case when the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement sought a permit for a march with the purpose, as the DHS states, “to recognize the African slaves used to build Wall Street.” DHS reports on how the NYPD denied the sound permit for the planned activity and how the permit application was “kicked back and forth by the City, GSA and NPS. …” (p. 35)As the federal and local governments and law enforcement agencies engaged in a concerted, coordinated crackdown to evict Occupy protests from public spaces in the last months of 2011, DHS officials shared and coordinated strategies. For instance, the DHS District Commander in Detroit directly communicated with a law enforcement official who was “tasked with coming up with an exit strategy for us." After writing that he had heard in the news that encampments were "broken up in California and Georgia," the DHS District Commander continued, "What is the plan for the Occupy Detroit group in Grand Circus Park? I have been reporting daily and sending it up.” (p. 117)The documents show a Department of Homeland Security that appears obsessed with the question of whether any and all protests that are being surveilled receive media attention and coverage. Reporting within the DHS on media coverage of First Amendment protected activities, even in the smallest places, appears to be a routine part of DHS intelligence reports. None of the documents explain why media coverage of peaceful demonstrations is of interest to law enforcement or concerns “homeland security” in any way.“This production of documents, like the FBI documents that the PCJF received in December 2012, is a window into the nationwide scope of DHS and FBI surveillance, monitoring, and reporting on peaceful protestors organizing with the Occupy movement. Taken together, the two sets of documents paint a disturbing picture of federal law enforcement agencies using their vast power in a systematic effort to surveil and disrupt peaceful demonstrations. The federal agencies’ actions were not because Occupy represented a 'terrorist threat' or a 'criminal threat' but rather because it posed a significant grassroots political challenge to the status quo,” stated Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, Executive Director of the PCJF. “The documents are heavily redacted and represent, we believe, a fraction of what the government possesses. But these documents show that federal and local law enforcement agencies, in concert with the biggest banks on Wall Street and elsewhere in the country, conducted a massive spying program and a large-scale disruption operation against the Occupy movement.” stated Carl Messineo, Legal Director of the PCJF.You can read the DHS - OWS documents here where we have uploaded them in searchable format for public viewing.The PCJF filed Freedom of Information Act demands with multiple federal law enforcement agencies in the fall of 2011 as the Occupy crackdown began.

This is a very long article but worth the read. We let people starve and yet the military industrial complex keeps rolling along unchecked, over used and over funded. This is how it starts out and is but a pimple on the butt of the military industrial complex:

If terrorists ever target Fargo, N.D., the local police will be ready.

In recent years, they have bought bomb-detection robots, digital communications equipment and Kevlar helmets, like those used by soldiers in foreign wars. For local siege situations requiring real firepower, police there can use a new $256,643 armored truck, complete with a rotating turret. Until that day, however, the menacing truck is mostly used for training runs and appearances at the annual Fargo picnic, where it’s been displayed near a children’s bounce house.

“Most people are so fascinated by it, because nothing happens here,” said Carol Archbold, a Fargo resident and criminal justice professor at North Dakota State University. “There’s no terrorism here.”

We let people starve and yet the military industrial complex keeps rolling along unchecked

Buffalo soldier, along with those who make such decisions, use terror tactics to allow the police to use those who have learned killing tactics along with terroism tactics while in the military: "Obama also will include in the 2013 budget a separate $4 billion in funding to promote police hiring, with communities that hire post-September 11 veterans getting preference for the funds. Another $1 billion would go to employ firefighters and emergency workers, the statement said." http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/ ... SU20120203. I think not only is this world fraught with peril but with fear, fear purposely instilled by the government against innocent citizens. I am not surprised that Fargo, being a town of much racist history, has purchased high priced gear along with exhibiting it (sadly near a children’s bounce house). Just think what that money could be used for instead; feeding those in ND that need food, fuel and other necessities. Again, I don't vote because the current state of affairs makes me sick.

Buffalo soldier, along with those who make such decisions, use terror tactics to allow the police to use those who have learned killing tactics along with terroism tactics while in the military: "Obama also will include in the 2013 budget a separate $4 billion in funding to promote police hiring, with communities that hire post-September 11 veterans getting preference for the funds. Another $1 billion would go to employ firefighters and emergency workers, the statement said." http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/ ... SU20120203.I think not only is this world fraught with peril but with fear, fear purposely instilled by the government against innocent citizens. I am not surprised that Fargo, being a town of much racist history, has purchased high priced gear along with exhibiting it (sadly near a children’s bounce house). Just think what that money could be used for instead; feeding those in ND that need food, fuel and other necessities. Again, I don't vote because the current state of affairs makes me sick.

lilac, just because someone is a Vet from Afghanistan or Iraq does not make them a terrorist any more than being ndn makes you a terrorist. It is always the bully boys and girls that make good corporate cop terrorist of greed and are of any ethnicity.

Fargo may have a racist history but more people were dismayed by the acquisitions than enthralled. This is about 'bidness;' for profit gains selling war materials to local police agencies in order to keep us "safe."

Just in case you don't know: Business allows for profit. Bidness allows rape. War profiteering, Wall St. CEOs, housing illegal foreclosures and the Keystone XL are all just bidness.

It is always the bully boys and girls that make good corporate cop terrorist of greed and are of any ethnicity.

Lost Spirit, How many male soldiers have you heard of that have been raped, physically and emotionally, by female soldiers? How many female bullies vs male bullies exist in any organization? And as for corporations; they are typically white male (I don't lose any sleep over this; I do not have much respect for these corporate monsters) dominated: http://technorati.com/business/article/ ... ely-white/However, terrorists and racists come in all colors but you have to admit (look at history, past and present) in the u.s. these roles are dominated by white males. And as for the people of Fargo being dismayed by the display of military "toys" why didn't they speak up? Was it fear?

Lost Spirit, How many male soldiers have you heard of that have been raped, physically and emotionally, by female soldiers? How many female bullies vs male bullies exist in any organization?

lilac, I have read of male soldiers being raped by men. I have read about and seen first hand abusive female police officers that over respond to a situation. Just because someone is a women does not mean they are all good. Look at Catherine The Great, Queen Elizabeth The First, Madelene Albright (sp?), Janet Reno and Margret Thatcher. I was not trying to make each sex as equally responsible but to neither place blame on one sex alone. On two different occasions by two different women, separated by years and unsolicited on my part, stated that being raped by male guards was far less of a problem than being raped by a female guard or inmate. So I stand by my statement of:

Lostspirit wrote:

It is always the bully boys and girls that make good corporate cop terrorist of greed and are of any ethnicity.

I agree with every word of this editorial. I might note that McClatchy News is probably under investigation at the time this was written for its articles on drone strikes. Just as the AP did not know they were under investigation until it was done deal:

AUSTIN, Texas – The twin revelations of the Internal Revenue Service targeting conservative political organizations and, now, that the U.S. Justice Department was spying on the Associated Press – all in a few days – mean this: It is time to air the dirty laundry of this administration's intelligence and surveillance programs – and it is way past time for heads to roll in Washington.

Love it, like it or hate it, one thing is clear about the Obama administration: It is addicted to secrecy.

First, Congress should launch a bipartisan, joint and open House-Senate investigation of the domestic surveillance activities of the Obama administration.

Two, Attorney General Eric Holder should be forced to testify under oath, with the potential criminal penalties. And then he should be fired.

Finally, an investigation by Congress should include investigations into the covert activities of the administration abroad, too.

President Barack Obama entered office amid admittedly difficult economic, let alone political circumstances. He pledged to govern boldly and with transparency, to heal the partisan and other divides of the nation. He has faced intransigence, which borders on hatred frankly, from some in the Republican House.

The president won re-election by talking big again. And yet he has governed relatively small. Aside from his health care law – which no one really understands – his achievements have been spare. Yes, Detroit did not fail. Nor did Wall Street. Yet it is hard to accept the administration's chief argument: Things could have been worse. And that's only because it is impossible to prove the negative.

Policy aside, this president's second term is beginning to mirror the temptations of previous presidents' second terms: The excesses of secrecy, spying and covert wars. It could well be that Obama's drone wars do not emulate Ronald Reagan's Iran-contra conspiracy – and yet we do not know that for a fact. The administration has even reportedly failed to send a witness to Congress to testify on its secret, robotic assassination program, according to the New York Times.

It is one thing for the president not to particularly like lawmakers who disparage him – sometimes in a way that they would never disparage a white president, frankly. It is entirely another for the national security apparatus of the United States to turn its shoulder to the elected representatives or the people, however ludicrous or comical those representatives might be.

The targeting by the IRS of conservative political organizations is, frankly, potentially chillingly Nixonian, and Congress needs to determine if political considerations beyond the obvious were at work and whether the director of the IRS acted on his own, whether officials at Treasury were involved – and yes, whether anyone had direction, official or otherwise from the White House itself.

Congress should not politicize this investigation; it should act in a determined and bipartisan fashion, coordinated between the House and the Senate. If Republicans or Democrats play politics, they should not expect public support.

Last, the fact that the Justice Department secretly obtained the phone records of the Associated Press is a despicable, final outrage. So far, the government has not indicated why it seized the records without prior warning.

The administration has not bothered to explain why it broke into the electronic communications of not just this country's but one of the world's most trusted news organizations; presumably the government was interested in the AP's reporting of a leak regarding a CIA operation in Yemen. But department regulations require that none other than the attorney general himself sign off on spying on a news organization. So, there are two logical explanations.

One is that the third leg of the investigative stool for Congress must be the administration's surveillance operations abroad – including its targeted, drone assassinations. It simply must be exposed to public scrutiny. This administration has killed an American citizen abroad and stolen the information of an American news organization at home, likely all in the name of its covert wars abroad.

The Obama administration is hooked on the drug of killing presumed enemies abroad – without any public accountability. Admittedly, it would be nice if Congress would clean up its act and take its intelligence and foreign policy duties a little more seriously; its investigation into what happened in Benghazi has been clumsily politicized.

But contrary to its many promises, the Obama administration loves the darkness of secrecy far more than the disinfectant of sunlight. And that is dangerous for the president, his administration and, more important, the public. The war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is effectively done. Osama bin Laden is long dead. It is time to come clean about what the Obama administration has done abroad. It is past time for the Obama administration to come clean about what it has done at home. And it is way past time for Eric Holder to go.

Richard Parker writes for McClatchy-Tribune, the New York Times, the New Republic, the Columbia Journalism Review, and he is the author of "Unblinking: Rise of the Modern Superdrones," due out this fall.

So, this week with all the hullabaloo in the main stream media about the government spying on citizens, something we've known about for years, I wonder how long it will take them to catch on to this one?

Spy tech secretly embeds itself in phones, monitors and operates them from afarn 2008, a Reston, VA based corporation called Oceans' Edge, Inc. applied for a patent. On March, 2012 the company's application for an advanced mobile snooping technology suite was approved.

The patent describes a Trojan-like program that can be secretly installed on mobile phones, allowing the attacker to monitor and record all communications incoming and outgoing, as well as manipulate the phone itself. Oceans' Edge says that the tool is particularly useful because it allows law enforcement and corporations to work around mobile phone providers when they want to surveil someone's phone and data activity. Instead of asking AT&T for a tap, in other words, the tool embeds itself inside your phone, turning your device against you.

A former employee of Oceans' Edge notes on his LinkedIn page that the company's clients included the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, and other law enforcement.

For many civil libertarians, the Administration and Congress will have to forgive the feeling that this is like asking “who are you going to believe a court or the people who were secretly spying on you?” What makes this particularly fascinating is the small problem of the past false testimony on surveillance given by intelligence officials in congressional hearings — testimony known to be false by the Senators in attendance. This is also the same Administration that only in February blocked a major effort to seek judicial review dismissed in the Supreme Court by a 5-4 vote because any confirmation of such programs would endanger American lives.

The older authority figure wins the trust of the young target by cultivating a false friendship, having heart-to-heart conversations, giving gifts, offering protection. And then the sex ensues, sometimes forced, sometimes seemingly consensual.

It is a classic predatory tactic known as “grooming,” and no one familiar with it could have been terribly surprised when a new report from the U.S. Department of Justice declared that young people in the country’s juvenile detention facilities are being victimized in just this way. The youngsters in custody are often deeply troubled, lacking parents, looking for allies. And the people in charge of the facilities wield great power over the day-to-day lives of their charges.

What was a genuine shock to many was the finding that in the vast majority of instances, it was female staff members who were targeting and exploiting the male teens in their custody.

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